Accessibility of Healthcare Services Among Elderly Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the capacity of health systems to deliver essential services, disproportionately impacting the elderly population who require consistent and appropriate healthcare. This study aimed to assess the accessibility of healthcare services for the elderly and to identify the barriers they encountered in utilizing barangay health centers in Zamboanga City during the pandemic. Employing a descriptive research design, the study utilized statistical analysis alongside structured interviews with elderly participants to gather data on service utilization and access-related challenges. Findings revealed that all barangay health centers in Zamboanga City continued to provide medical consultations and maintenance services for elderly individuals throughout the pandemic. Among the 365 elderly respondents, 237 (64.93%) reported preferring to visit their nearest health center, and 236 individuals accessed facilities located within a 3-kilometer radius of their residences. Additionally, 239 participants indicated that travel time to the health center was less than 20 minutes. Qualitative data obtained through telephone interviews highlighted five major barriers to healthcare access during the pandemic: unprofessional or inadequate treatment by facility personnel, substandard service quality, extended travel distances, unaffordable service costs, and prolonged waiting times. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance the responsiveness and inclusivity of primary healthcare systems for elderly populations, especially during public health emergencies.